Illuminating arrangement for use in or with photographic apparatus

ABSTRACT

The housing of a photographic camera or a discrete illuminating device has a shoe for the foot of an electronic flash unit or a photoflash unit. The housing contains a current supplying circuit whose high-voltage generating portion is a transformer or a piezoelectric crystal and is connected with the tube of the electronic flash unit or with the lamp of the photoflash unit in response to connection of the respective unit to the housing. The tube or lamp is fired in response to opening of the shutter by the shutter release element.

United States Patent [191 Wagner 1 1 ILLUMINATING ARRANGEMENT FOR USE INOR WITH PHOTOGRAPI-IIC APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Karl Wagner, Ottoblrunn,Germany [73] Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Aktiengesellschaft,

Leverkusen, Germany 122 ma? 5 N6v.,'"i970 [21] App1.No.: 87,142

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data I Nov. 8, 1969 Germany ..P 1956319.0

[52] US. Cl. ..95/1l.5 R

i [51] Int. Cl. ..G03b 9/70 [58] Field of Search ..95/11 R, 11 L, 11.5 R

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,463,069 8/1969 Kremp eta1. ..95/11.5 R

3,500,451 3/1970 Yando ..95/1 1.5 R

3,466,992 9/1969 Wick et a1... .....95/] 1.5 R

3,358,573 12/1967 Bihlmaier ....95/11 R 3,437,021 4/1969 Kapteyn et a1..95/11 R [4 1 Jan. 23, 1973 Ikegami ..95/11 R Schwahn ..95/] 1.5 R

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,121,976 7/1968 Great Britain ..95/11.5R 1,211,480 2/1966 Germany ..95/11 R 1,166,095 10/1969 Great Britain..95/1 1 L Primary ExaminerSamuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Russe1lE. Adams, Jr. At't0meyMichae1 S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT The housing of aphotographic camera or a discrete illuminating device has a shoe for thefoot of an electronic flash unit or a photoflash unit. The housingcontains a current supplying circuit whose high-voltage generatingportion is a transformer or a piezoelectric crystal and is connectedwith the tube of the electronic flash unit or with the lamp of thephotoflash unit in response to connection of the respective unit to thehousing. The tube or lamp is fired in response to opening of the shutterby the shutter release element.

29 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAH23 197s SHEET 2 [IF 4 Fig.2

INVENTOR KARL WAGNER y z/ PATENTED JAN 2 3 I975 sum 3 OF 4 Fig.3

' 32 31 iL 34 film:

F ig.4

INVENTOR KARL WAGNER Ila/x,

PATENTEUJAH 23 I973 SHEET u 8F 4 INVENTOR KARL WAGNER t i/w/ I:

ILLUMINATING ARRANGEMENT FOR USE IN OR WITH PIIOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION arrangements which can utilize differenttypes of flash units, especially photoflash units or electronic flashunits.

It is already known to utilize a photoflash unit in addition to anelectronic flash unit. As a rule, the photoflash unit is mounted betweenthe camera and-the electronic flash unit. The photoflash unit includes astorage capacitor which can be charged by the firing capacitor of theelectronic flash unit by way of an inserted photoflash lamp and twocontacts which extend from the housing of the photoflash unit.

It is also known to employ a housing which can support an electronicflash unit and a photoflash unit. The housing contains thecurrent-supplying parts for both units. When the synchronizing switch isclosed, for example, by the camera release element, the tube of theelectronic flash unit is fired simultaneously with the lamp of thephotoflash unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide anilluminating arrangement, namely, a photographic camera or a discreteilluminating device which can employ different types of flash units andwherein the selected flash unit (such as an electronic flash unit or aphotoflash unit) automatically effects the necessary adjustments of thecurrent supplying circuit in response to proper attachment to thehousing of the camera or of a discrete illuminating device so that theuser need not carry out any operations excepting the attachment of theselected flash unit to the housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedcurrent supplying circuit for use in a camera or in an illuminatingdevice of the just outlined character.

A further object of the invention is to provide a current supplyingcircuit which comprises a relatively small number of parts.

An additional object of the invention is to provide the currentsupplying circuit with novel means for supplying high-voltage currentfor the firing of a tube or lamp in an electronic flash unit or aphotoflash unit.

The invention is embodied in an illuminating arrangement which mayconstitute a portion of a photographic camera or a discrete illuminatingdevice and comprises a housing (e.g., the body ofa camera), a currentsupplying circuit having a high-voltage generating portion (such as atransformer or a piezoelectric crystal) mounted in the housing, anelectronic flash unit having a tube, a foot or an analogous memberseparably connectable with an accessory shoe or analogousreceiving'means on the housing, and contact means for connecting thetube with the high-voltage generating portion in response to connectionof the foot with the accessory shoe, a photoflash unit usableinterchangeably with the electronic flash unit and having lamp means, amember (such as a foot) which is connectable with the receiving means onthe housing,

and contact means for connecting the lamp means with the high-voltagegenerating portion in response to connection of the shoe on thephotoflash unit with the receiving means, and means (such as thesynchronizing switch of a camera) for initiating the firing of the tubeor lamp means, depending upon whether the arrangement is being used withthe electronic flash unit or with the photoflash unit.

At least the major part of the current supplying circuit is preferablymounted in the housing. The circuit may further comprise switching meanswhich is actuatable in response to connection of at least one of the twomembers (shoes) to the receiving means on the housing. If thehigh-voltage generating portion of the current supply circuit is atransformer, the circuit further comprises an energy source and normallyopen switch means with connects the energy source with the high-voltagegenerating portion in response to proper attachment of either unit tothe receiving means of the housing.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved illuminating arrangement itself, however, both as to itsconstruction and its mode of operation, together with additionalfeatures and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal ofthe following detailed description of certain specific embodiments withreference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary partlydiagrammatic and partly perspective view of a photographic apparatuswith a built-in illuminating arrangement which is constructed inaccordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of a second camera embodying a modifiedilluminating arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a photoflash unit which can beused in the apparatus of FIG. I or 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary schematic perspective view of a secondphotoflash unit which can be utilized in the photographic apparatus ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an electronic flash unit whichcan be used in the apparatus of FIG. I or 2 as a substitute for thephotoflash unit of FIG. 3 or 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a photographic apparatuswith a built-in illuminating arrangement which embodies a third form ofthe invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an electronic flash unit which can beutilized in the apparatus of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a photoflash unit which can be utilizedin the apparatus of FIG. 6 as a substitute for the electronic flash unitof FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1,there is shown a photographic camera with a built-in illuminatingarrangement which embodies the invention. The camera comprises a housingor body whose top wall is shown at 15. The housing contains a currentsupplying circuit 1 which comprises an energy source 2. This currentsupplying circuit (hereinafter called supply circuit for short) servesto supply current for the firing of an electronic flash unit or aphotoflash unit. The energy source 2 is connected with a transformerassembly including a transistor 3 and a transformer 4. The emitter ofthe transistor 3 is connected with the negative pole of the energysource 2 by way of a first primary, winding 4a of the transformer 4. Thecollector of the transistor 3 can be connected with the positive pole ofthe energy source 2 by way of a switch 5. The emitter-collector circuitof the transistor 3 is connected in parallel with a fixed resistor 6which is in series with a capacitor 7. A tap 6a between the resistor 6and capacitor 7 is connected with the base of the transistor 3 by way ofa second primary winding 4b of the transformer 4. The base of thetransistor 3 is further connected to one terminal of the secondarywinding 40 of the transformer 4.

The transistor 3 constitutes a d-c current chopper and the high voltageat the output of the transistor is rectified by a rectifier 8 andsmoothed by a storage capacitor 9. The capacitor 9 serves to supplycurrent to the tube of the electronic flash unit and is connected inparallel with two resistors 10, 11 and a firing capacitor 12. Theelements -12 are connected in series. The capacitor 12 can be connectedin parallel with the primary winding 14a of a high-voltage transformer14 by way of a synchronizing switch 13. The secondary winding of thetransformer 14 is shown at 14b. .This transformer constitutes thehigh-voltage generating portion of the circuit 1.

The storage capacitor 9 is connected in parallel with a readilyobservable signal lamp 16 which is installed below the top wall of thecamera housing. The top wall 15 further supports a receiving means hereshown as an accessory shoe which includes two parallel L- wall 15between the rails 17, 18 of the accessory shoe,

is connected with the movable central contact 20 of a two-way switchwhich further includes two fixed contacts 21, 22. The contact 21 isconnected with a tap-23 of the secondary winding 14b, and the contact 22is connected with the storage capacitor 9. The movable contact 20normally engages the fixed contact 21. p

The means for actuating the two-way switch (i.e., for moving the contact20 againstthe contact 22) comprises a two-armed lever 24 which is biasedto the idle position shown in FIG. 1 by a helical spring 25. Theupperarm of the lever 24 extends through and beyond a slot 26 in the topwall 15 and is located in the'path of movement of a foot'of anelectronic flash unit when the foot is properly inserted into the spacebetween the guide rails l7, 18 of the accessory shoe.

The space between the guide rails 17, 18 accommodates a portion of theupper arm of a second twoarmed actuating lever 27 which extends througha slot of the wall 15 and is biased to an idle position by a helicalspring 29. When the upper arm of the lever 27 is moved forwardly, asviewed in FIG. 1, its lower arm closes the aforementioned switch 5 sothat the switch 5 connects the energy source 2 with the transformer 14.

A second contact 30 is mounted in the wall 15 between the guide rails17,18 and is connected to the free end of the winding 14b.

A photoflash unit 31 which can be attached to the shoe on the wall 15 isshown in FIG. 3. An electronic flash unit 38 which can be attached tothe accessory shoe when the photoflash unit 31 is removed is shown inFIG. 5. The photoflash unit 31 has a socket for a photoflash lamp 32located in front of a reflector 33. The foot 34 of the'photoflash unit31 has a front face provided with a recess or notch 35 which can receivethe upwardly extending portion of the actuating lever 24 when the foot34 is inserted between the rails 17, 18 of the accessory shoe on thewall 15. A contact 36 at the underside of the foot 34 engages thecontact 19 when the photoflash unit 31 is properly mounted on the wall15. A further contact 37 of the foot 34 engages the rail 18 and isthereby connected to the ground when the foot 34 is received in theaccessory shoe.

The electronic flash unit 38 of FIG. 5 has a tube 39 with electrodes 40and 42. The electrode 40 is connected with a first contact 41 at theunderside of the foot 380, and the electrode 42 is connected with asecond contact 43 provided on a side face of the foot 38a. A contactelectrode 44 of the tube 39 is connected with a third contact 45 whichis also provided at the underside of the foot 38a. When the foot 38a isproperly inserted into the space between the guide rails 17, 18, thecontacts 41 and 45 respectively engage the contacts 19 and 30.

The operation:

When the user decides to use the photoflash unit 31 of FIG. 3, the foot34 is inserted between the rails 17, 18 of the accessory shoe on thewall 15 in the direction indicated by arrow A. The front face of thefoot 34 then pivots the lever 27 against the opposition of the spring 29so that the lever 27 closes the switch 5. The lever 24 extends into thenotch 35 of the foot 34 and remains in the illustrated idle position inwhich the movable contact 20 of the two-way switch 20-22 engages thefixed contact 21. The capacitors 9 and 12 are charged after the elapseof a certain period of time. This is indicated to the user by the signallamp 16. i The user then actuates a camera release element 13A (which ispreferably mounted on the wall 15) to close the synchronizing switch 13simultaneously'with opening of the shutter, not shown. The capacitor '12discharges abruptly through the primary winding 14a of the high-voltagetransformer 14. This produces a high voltage surge in the secondarywinding 14b. The current flows from the tap 23-by way of the contacts21, 20 of the two-way switch, contact 19 on the wall 15, contact 36 onthe foot 34 and to the photoflash lamp 32 which is fired to illuminatethe subject or scene.

The photoflash unit 31 can be of the type wherein Y the lampv 32 isreplaced by a flashtube or strobe lamp which can be used repeatedly.

If the user decides to use the electronic flash unit 38 of FIG. 5 as asubstitute for the photoflash unit 31, the foot 38a is inserted into thespace between the rails 17, 18 in the direction indicated by the arrowA. The front face of the foot 38a pivots the actuating levers 24, 27 sothat the lever 27 closes the switch 5 and the lever 24 moves the contact20 of the two-way switchagainst the contact 22. The contact 19 is thenconnected with the positively charged plate of the capacitor 9. Thecontacts 19,30 on the wall 15 are respectively engaged by the contacts41, 45 on the foot-38a.

When the synchronizing switch 13 is closed by the camera release element13A, a high-voltage surge is induced in the secondary winding 14b of thetransformer 14 so that the tube 39 produces an electronic flash. Thestorage capacitor 9 discharges by way of the tube 39.

The contact 30 is preferably offset with reference to the contact 19 (asconsidered in the direction of the arrow A). This prevents unintentionalfiring of the tube 39 or lamp 32 during insertion of the unit 38 or 31by preventing the contact 41 or 36 on the foot 38a or 34 from engagingthe contact 19.

If the contacts 19 and 30 are aligned as shown in FIG. 1, the lever 27is positioned in such a way that it can be pivoted by the foot 34 or 38aonly after the contact 36 or 41 moves beyond the contact 30.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment wherein all such parts which areclearly analogous to or identical with the parts of the structure shownin FIG. 1 are denoted by similar reference characters. The parts -14 ofFIG. 1 are replaced with a high-voltage generating portion in the formof a piezoelectric crystal 50 whose electrode 51 is connected to thecontact 30 and with the contact 19 by way of the contacts 20, 21 of thetwo-way switch. A pivotable impeller or hammer 52 is adjacent to thecrystal 50 and is normally held in the illustrated cocked position by apivotable blocking pawl 54. A spring 53 biases the hammer 52 in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, so that the head of thehammer tends to strike against the crystal 50. The spring 53 isconnected to a manually or automatically turnable eccentric 55 having anindex which is movable into registry with the graduation a or b of afixed scale. The eccentric 55 serves as a means for adjusting the biasof the spring 53 and for thereby determining the strength of impactswhich are applied to the crystal 50 when the blocking pawl 54 is movedto an inoperative position.

If the user decides to use the photoflash unit 31 of FIG. 3, the foot 34is inserted between the rails 17, 18 so that it closes the switch 5 byway of the lever 27. The contact 36 engages the contact 19 and thecontact 37 engages the rail 18 which conducts current. The lever 24extends into the notch 35 and leaves the contact in the illustratedposition in which the contact 20 engages with the contact 21.

It is assumed that the index of the adjusting eccentric 55 registerswith the graduation a so that the bias of the spring 53 is relativelysmall. When the user thereupon actuates the camera release element 54ato open the shutter (not shown), the release element 54a pivots theblocking pawl 54 in a clockwise direction to release the hammer 52 whichstrikes against the crystal with a force determined by the bias of thespring 53. This generates a high voltage, which causes the firing of thelamp 32.

The photoflash unit 31 of FIG. 3 can be replaced in the apparatus ofFIG. 2 with a photoflash unit 131 of the type shown in FIG. 4. The foot134 of the unit- 131 has two notches or recesses 35, 56 for the levers24 and 27, respectively. Thus, when the foot 134 is inserted between therails 17, 18 of the accessory shoe on the wall 15, the switch 5 remainsopen and the median contact 20 of the two-way switch remains inengagement with the fixed contact 21. The voltage produced by thecrystal 50 suffices to fire the lamp of the unit 131 while the switch 5remains open.

If the user decides to use the electronic flash unit 38 of FIG. 5,, thefoot 380 closes the switch 5 by way ofthe lever 27 and causes the lever24 to move the contact 20 into engagement with the contact 22 of thetwo-way switch. The contacts 20, 22 then connect the contact 19 on thewall 15 with the storage capacitor 9. The user also turns the adjustingeccentric 55 so that the index of this eccentric registers with thegraduation b, i.e., the bias of the spring 53 increases. When the camerarelease element 54a moves the blocking pawl 54 away from the cockedhammer 52, the latter transmits to the crystal 50 a strong impulse whichgenerates a very high voltage, i.e., a voltage higher than that which isgenerated when the camera is used with the photoflash unit 31 or 131.The high-voltage current is conveyed by way of the contact 30, contact45 and control electrode 44. The tube 39 is fired and the storagecapacitor 9 discharges by way of this tube.

The structure of FIG. 2 can be modified by replacing the eccentric 55with a resistor (not shown) which is connected in parallel with thecrystal 50 in response to insertion of the foot 34 or 134 into theaccessory shoe on the wall 15. The spring 53 is then anchored directlyin the housing of the camera and causes the hammer 52 to strike thecrystal 50 with a force which is sufficient to fire the tube 39 of theelectronic flash unit. The resistor is disconnected from the circuit ofthe crystal 50 when the apparatus is used with the electronic flash unit31. This resistor is in parallel with the crystal only when theapparatus is used with a photoflash unit whose firing requires a lowervoltage.

The eccentric 55 can be adjusted to the required position in automaticresponse to attachment of a photoflash unit or an electronic flash unit.The arrangement can be such that the eccentric. 5S normally assumes theposition which is shown in FIG. 2 and moves to the other position (toincrease the bias of the spring 53) in response to insertion of the foot38a into the accessory shoe on the wall 15.

FIG. 6 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention. A high-voltagegenerating piezoelectric crystal 60 is mounted in the camera housingwhich includes a top wall 66 for the L-shaped guide rails 68, 69 of anaccessory shoe 67. The crystal 60 can receive impulses from an'impelleror hammer 62 which is pivoted in the housing, as at 63, and is normallyheld in the illustrated cocked position by a pivotable blocking pawl 64.The hammer 62 is biased by a helical spring 61 which is attached to anadjusting eccentric having an index or pointer movable into registrywith a graduation a or a graduation b. The bias of the spring 61 isstronger when the pointer registers with the graduation b. When held inthe solid-line position of FIG. 6, the eccentric 65 biases the hammer 62to the extent required for operation with a photoflash unit. The bias ofthe spring 61 is increased by moving the eccentric 65 to the phantomlineposition of FIG. 6 when the camera is to be used with an electronicflash unit.

The guide rail 69 of the accessory shoe 67 conducts current and isconnected with one electrode of the crystal 60. The other electrode ofthe crystal 60 is connected with a contact mounted on the wall 66 in thespace between the rails 68 and 69. The shoe 71a of the electronic flashunit 71 shown in FIG. 7 has at its underside a contact (not shown) whichengages the contact 70 when the foot 71a is properly inserted into theshoe 67. The contact 70 then connects the left-hand electrode of thecrystal 60 with the control electrode of the tube 72 in the electronicflash unit 71. All other parts of the supply circuit which includes thecrystal 60 are mounted in the electronic flash unit 71. This simplifiesthe construction of the camera because the wall 66 then merely supportstwo contacts 70, 69 connected to the electrodes of the crystal 60. Thelatter is mounted in the housing of the camera or in the housing of adiscrete illuminating device.

The electronic flash unit 71 of FIG. 7 can be used interchangeably withthe photoflash unit 73 of FIG. 8. The foot 73a of the unit 73 isreceivable in the shoe 67 upon removal of the foot 71a. The underside ofthe foot 73a carries a contact (not shown) which engages the contact 70and connects the crystal 60 with the lamp 74.

It is clear that the structure shown in FIG. 1, 2 or 6 can beinstalled-in a housing which forms part of a discrete illuminatingdevice and can use electronic flash units or photoflash units. All thatcounts is to install the supply circuit in and/or on a housing which isprovided with receiving means (preferably an accessory shoe) for thefoot of a photoflash unit or an electronic flash unit. Thus, the housingwhich includes the wall or 66 can constitute the body of a camera or thehousing of an illuminating device which can be used with a camera toeffect artificial illumination of a subject or scene when the shutter ofthe camera opens.

The housing of the camera or of a discrete illuminating device can beprovided with two shoes, one for the foot of the electronic flash unitand the other for the foot of thephotoflash unit. With reference to FIG.6, the second shoe (not shown) can be used to receive the foot 71a oftheelectronic flash unit 71 and the inserted foot 71a can automaticallymove'the eccentric 65 to the phantom-line position. One rail of thesecond shoe is connected to th'e right-hand electrode of the crystal 60and the contact (corresponding to 70).in the second shoe is connected tothe left-hand electrode of the crystal 60 or to the contact 70.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featureswhich fairly. constitute essential characteristics of the generic andspecific aspects of my contribution to the art and, therefore, suchadaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as'new and desiredtob'e protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In an illuminating arrangement, a combination comprising a housinghaving receiving means; circuit means mounted'in said housing andhavinga high-voltage generating portion and a current-supplying portion;first contact means mounted in said housing and connected-with saidcurrent-supplying and said high-voltage generating portions; 3.photoflash unit and an elecgenerating portion by way of said firstcontact means in response to connection of the respective couplingmember to said receiving means, said electronic flash unit furtherincluding a tube and second complementary contact means for connectingsaid tube with said current-supplying and high-voltage generatingportions by way of said first contact means in response to connection ofthe respective coupling member to said receiving means; and means foreffecting the generation of high-voltage pulses by said high-voltagegenerating portion.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said high-voltagegenerating portion comprises transformer means having secondary windingmeans provided with a tap, said first complementary contact means beingconnected with said tap by way of said first contact means in responseto connection of the coupling member of said photoflash unit to saidreceiving means.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said high-voltagegenerating portion comprises a piezoelectric crystal and impeller meansmovable from a cocked position against said crystal whereby the latterproduces the voltage required for firing of said lamp means or saidtube, said means for effecting the generation of high-voltage pulsescomprising shutter opening means arranged to effect a movement of saidimpeller means from said cocked position in response to opening of theshutter.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit meansfurther comprises an energy source and normally open switch means forconnecting said highvoltage generating portion with said energy source,the coupling member of said electronic flash unit having means foreffecting the closing of said switch means in I response to connectionof said last mentioned coupling member to said receiving means and thecoupling member of said photoflash unit being arranged to leave saidswitch means in open position when said last mentioned coupling memberis connected to said receiving means, said high-voltage generatingportion comprising a piezoelectric crystal and impeller means actuatableto strike against said crystal.

5. A combination as defined in claim I, wherein said housing constitutesthe body of a photographic apparatus.

6. A combination as defined in claim l, wherein said housing forms partof a self-supporting illuminating arrangement. 1

7. A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising switchingmeans providedin said'circuit means and actuatable in response toconnection of at least one of said coupling members to said-receivingmeans.

8. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said circuit meansfurther comprises an energy source and normally open switch meansarranged to connect said energy sourcewith said high-voltage generatingportion in response to closing thereof, and further comprising means forclosing said switch means in response to connection of anyone of saidcoupling members to said receiving means. v

9. A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said means for closingsaid switching means comprises ac- 10. A combination as defined in claim7, wherein said circuit means further comprises second switching meansoperable only by one of said coupling members when said one couplingmember is being connected with said receiving means.

11. A combination as defined in claim 3, further comprising adjustablemeans for biasing said impeller means away from said cocked positionwith a variable force.

12. A combination as defined in claim 11, further comprising adjustingmeans for said biasing means, said adjusting means being movable betweena plurality of positions each of which corresponds to a different biasupon said impeller means.

13. A combination as defined in claim 12, wherein said adjusting meansis movable by hand.

14. A combination as defined in claim 12, wherein said adjusting meanscomprises a rotary eccentric, said biasing means comprising spring meansconnected with said impeller means and said eccentric.

15. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said housingconstitutes the body of a photographic apparatus and said receivingmeans comprises a single receiving device for reception of one of saidcoupling members at a time.

16. A combination as defined in claim 15, wherein said first contactmeans comprises three contacts disposed in the region of said receivingdevice, the first of said contacts being connected with the ground, thesecond of said contacts being connected with said highvoltage generatingportion of said circuit means and said circuit means further comprisinga firing portion for said tube, said firing portion being connected withthe third of said contacts.

17. A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein said circuit meanscomprises an energy source and normally open switch means for connectingsaid energy source with said high-voltage generating portion, and

further comprising actuating means operable to close I said switchmeans, said coupling members being connectable with said receivingdevice in response to movement in a predetermined direction to therebyoperate said actuating means and said second and third contacts beingaligned with each other as considered in said direction, said secondcomplementary contact means having a pair of contacts which are alignedwith each other and respectively engage said second and third contactsin response to connection of the coupling member of said electronicflash unit to said receiving device, said actuating means being operatedby the coupling member of said electronic flash unit after one of saidpair of contacts of said second complementary contact means moves beyondthat one of said second and third contacts which is located behind theother of said second and third contacts as considered in said direction.

18. A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein said first contact isconnected with the ground by way of said circuit means.

19. A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein said first contactforms part of said receiving device.

20. A combination as defined in claim'19, wherein said receiving deviceis an accessory shoe.

21. A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein each of said couplingmembers is -connectable with the receiving device by moving in apredetermined direction and wherein said second and third contacts arealigned with each other, .as considered in said direction.

22. A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein each of said couplingmembers is connectable with the receiving device by moving in apredetermined direction and wherein said second and third contacts areoffset with reference to each other, as considered in said direction.

23. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit meansfurther comprises switch means and actuating means operable in responseto connection of at least one of said coupling members to said receivingmeans to thereby actuate said switch means.

24. A combination as defined in claim 23, wherein said actuating meanscomprises a lever which is pivotably mounted in said housing and has aportion extending into the path of movement of said one coupling memberduring connection of said one coupling member to said receiving means.

25. A combination as defined in claim 24, wherein said housing has anopening and said portion of said lever extends outwardly through saidopening.

26. A combination as defined in claim 24, further comprising biasingmeans for urging said lever to a predetermined position from which saidlever is pivoted in response to movement of said one coupling memberduring connection to said receiving means.

27. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit meansfurther comprises-a storage capacitor and two-way switch means arrangedto connect said high-voltage generating portion with the lamp means ofsaid photoflash unit in one position thereof and to connect said storagecapacitor with the tube of said electronic flash unit in anotherposition thereof.

28. A combination as defined in claim I, wherein said circuit meansfurther comprises an energy source, a storage capacitor connected withsaid source in response to connection of at least one of said couplingmembers to said receiving means whereby said capacitor is charged, andsignal lamp means observable from without said housing to indicate thecondition of said capacitor.

29. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said high-voltagegenerating portion comprises a piezoelectric crystal.

1. In an illuminating arrangement, a combination comprising a housinghaving receiving means; circuit means mounted in said housing and havinga high-voltage generating portion and a current-supplying portion; firstcontact means mounted in said housing and connected with saidcurrent-supplying and said highvoltage generating portions; a photoflashunit and an electronic flash unit, said units being usableinterchangeably and each thereof comprising a coupling member separablyconnectable with said receiving means, said photoflash unit furtherincluding lamp means and first complementary contact means forconnecting said lamp means only with said high-voltage generatingportion by way of said first contact means in response to connection ofthe respective coupling member to said receiving means, said electronicflash unit further including a tube and second complementary contactmeans for connecting said tube with said current-supplying andhigh-voltage generating portions by way of said first contact means inresponse to connection of the respective coupling member to saidreceiving means; and means for effecting the generation of high-voltagepulses by said highvoltage generating portion.
 2. A combination asdefined in claim 1, wherein said high-voltage generating portioncomprises transformer means having secondary winding means provided witha tap, said first complementary contact means being connected with saidtap by way of said first contact means in response to connection of thecoupling member of said photoflash unit to said receiving means.
 3. Acombination as defined in claim 1, wherein said high-voltage generatingportion comprises a piezoelectric crystal and impeller means movablefrom a cocked position against said crystal whereby the latter producesthe voltage required for firing of said lamp means or said tube, saidmeans for effecting the generation of high-voltage pulses comprisingshutter opening means arranged to effect a movement of said impellermeans from said cocked position in response to opening of the shutter.4. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit meansfurther comprises an energy source and normally open switch means forconnecting said high-voltage generating portion with said energy source,the coupling member of said electronic flash unit having means foreffecting the closing of said switch means in response to connection ofsaid last mentioned coupling member to said receiving means and thecoupling member of said photoflash unit being arranged to leave saidswitch means in open position when said last mentioned coupling memberis connected to said receiving means, said high-voltage generatingportion comprising a piezoelectric crystal and impeller means actuatableto strike against said crystal.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 1,wherein said housing constitutes the body of a photographic apparatus.6. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing forms partof a self-supporting illuminating arrangement.
 7. A combination asdefined in claim 1, further comprising switching means provided in saidcircuit means and actuatable in response to connection of at least oneof said coupling members to said receiving means.
 8. A combination asdefined in claim 1, wherein said circuit means further comprises anenergy source and normally open switch means arranged to connect saidenergy source with said high-voltage generating portion in response toclosing thereof, and further comprising means for closing said switchmeans in response to connection of any one of said coupling members tosaid receiving means.
 9. A combination as defined in claim 7, whereinsaid means for closing said switching means comprises actuating meansreceiving motion from that one of said couPling members which is beingconnected with said receiving means.
 10. A combination as defined inclaim 7, wherein said circuit means further comprises second switchingmeans operable only by one of said coupling members when said onecoupling member is being connected with said receiving means.
 11. Acombination as defined in claim 3, further comprising adjustable meansfor biasing said impeller means away from said cocked position with avariable force.
 12. A combination as defined in claim 11, furthercomprising adjusting means for said biasing means, said adjusting meansbeing movable between a plurality of positions each of which correspondsto a different bias upon said impeller means.
 13. A combination asdefined in claim 12, wherein said adjusting means is movable by hand.14. A combination as defined in claim 12, wherein said adjusting meanscomprises a rotary eccentric, said biasing means comprising spring meansconnected with said impeller means and said eccentric.
 15. A combinationas defined in claim 1, wherein said housing constitutes the body of aphotographic apparatus and said receiving means comprises a singlereceiving device for reception of one of said coupling members at atime.
 16. A combination as defined in claim 15, wherein said firstcontact means comprises three contacts disposed in the region of saidreceiving device, the first of said contacts being connected with theground, the second of said contacts being connected with saidhigh-voltage generating portion of said circuit means and said circuitmeans further comprising a firing portion for said tube, said firingportion being connected with the third of said contacts.
 17. Acombination as defined in claim 16, wherein said circuit means comprisesan energy source and normally open switch means for connecting saidenergy source with said high-voltage generating portion, and furthercomprising actuating means operable to close said switch means, saidcoupling members being connectable with said receiving device inresponse to movement in a predetermined direction to thereby operatesaid actuating means and said second and third contacts being alignedwith each other as considered in said direction, said secondcomplementary contact means having a pair of contacts which are alignedwith each other and respectively engage said second and third contactsin response to connection of the coupling member of said electronicflash unit to said receiving device, said actuating means being operatedby the coupling member of said electronic flash unit after one of saidpair of contacts of said second complementary contact means moves beyondthat one of said second and third contacts which is located behind theother of said second and third contacts as considered in said direction.18. A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein said first contact isconnected with the ground by way of said circuit means.
 19. Acombination as defined in claim 16, wherein said first contact formspart of said receiving device.
 20. A combination as defined in claim 19,wherein said receiving device is an accessory shoe.
 21. A combination asdefined in claim 16, wherein each of said coupling members isconnectable with the receiving device by moving in a predetermineddirection and wherein said second and third contacts are aligned witheach other, as considered in said direction.
 22. A combination asdefined in claim 16, wherein each of said coupling members isconnectable with the receiving device by moving in a predetermineddirection and wherein said second and third contacts are offset withreference to each other, as considered in said direction.
 23. Acombination as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit means furthercomprises switch means and actuating means operable in response toconnection of at least one of said coupling members to said receivingmeans to thereby actuate said switch means.
 24. A combination as definEdin claim 23, wherein said actuating means comprises a lever which ispivotably mounted in said housing and has a portion extending into thepath of movement of said one coupling member during connection of saidone coupling member to said receiving means.
 25. A combination asdefined in claim 24, wherein said housing has an opening and saidportion of said lever extends outwardly through said opening.
 26. Acombination as defined in claim 24, further comprising biasing means forurging said lever to a predetermined position from which said lever ispivoted in response to movement of said one coupling member duringconnection to said receiving means.
 27. A combination as defined inclaim 1, wherein said circuit means further comprises a storagecapacitor and two-way switch means arranged to connect said high-voltagegenerating portion with the lamp means of said photoflash unit in oneposition thereof and to connect said storage capacitor with the tube ofsaid electronic flash unit in another position thereof.
 28. Acombination as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit means furthercomprises an energy source, a storage capacitor connected with saidsource in response to connection of at least one of said couplingmembers to said receiving means whereby said capacitor is charged, andsignal lamp means observable from without said housing to indicate thecondition of said capacitor.
 29. A combination as defined in claim 1,wherein said high-voltage generating portion comprises a piezoelectriccrystal.